Apparatus for decomposing alkali-metal amalgams.



c; F. CARRIER, JR. APPARATUS FOR. DEOOMPOSING ALKALI METAL AMALGAMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1907. RENEWED NOV. 17, 1908- 908,?)45. Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

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OOURTLAND F. CARRIER, JR., OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR DEOOHPOBII N'G MALI-METAL AIALGAIB.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application fled Kay 85, 1997,. Serial No. 875,646.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909. Renewed November 17, 1908. Serial No. 488432.

To all whom it may comem:

Be it known that I, COURTLAND F. CAR- RIER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, reaidin at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in A aratus for Decom osin Alkali-Metal Amalgams, of which t e following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for decomposing alkali metal ama gams by the application 0 local electrolytic action.

It is well known that the reaction between sodium amalgam and water is expedited by local action, and various devices utilizing this effect have been suggested. Thus it has been proposed to oxidize the amalgam in a metal container, but it has been found that in such case the mercury is subject to con-' tamination by the metal of the container. Carbon has been used in various ways to form a con le with the amalgam, as by forming the sides of the container of'carbon lates, or by floating pieces of carbon upon t e amalgam. Various devices have also been emplo'yed to secure more efficient contact between the carbon and the amal corporating metallic filings wit the carbon or otherwise roviding metal surfaces in contact therewith, or by. providing the carbon with secondary or roughened surfaces. I have discovered that graphite offers particular advanta es for this purpose. The amalgam wets t egra hite surfaces and makes effective electrlca contact therewith; and owing to the high electrical conductivity of graphite as compared with carbon it forms a more eflicient cou le with the amalgam and the oxidation of tile alkali metal roceeds at a higher rate. In practice I pre erably employ graphite in the form of lates or bars extending above the surface 0 the amal am to a sulficlent height to permit a substantial difference in the density of the caustic alkali solution in contact with the bars, this height being preferably not less than two inches. I

have found that unless the graphite is in contact with H uid strata differing substantially in density t e action is very slow, and the arrangement of the apparatus should be such as to facilitate the production and maintenance of such strat A preferred form of apparatus in accordance with my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

am, as by in- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus on line 1-1 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

The apparatus shown comprises a containing vessel 1, preferabl of concrete but which may be of any suitab e material, the bottom being smooth and preferably very slightly inclined toward the outlet for mercury. In case it is desired to collect hydrogen the container is provided with a cover 2 having an outlet pipe 3 therein.

4, 5 represent respectively the inlet for amalgam and the outlet for mercury, these pipes entering through the bottom of the cell and being arranged to constitute seals to prevent the esca e of solution. The contamer is also provi ed with an inlet pipe 6 for water or an oxidizing electrol te approximately at the normal solution llevel, and an outlet 7 for the caustic alkali solution constructedto maintain the liquid level while withdrawing the denser solution from a point adjacent the surface of the mercury 8. The decomposing couple proper comprises a number of graphite plates or bars 9, preferably disposed substantially at right angles to the general direction of flow of amalgam between mlet and outlet; these lates are spaced by heavy iron barslO, and the whole 1s assembled by bolts 11. The bars 10 should be sufficiently heavy to insure the stability of the couple even in the presence of a considerable depth of mercury and when com letely immersed in a caustic solution of high concentration. The bottom of the bars are recessed, rooved or perforated as illustrated at 12, t e recesses in adjacent bars being preferably in staggered relation to direct the amalgam in a tortuous path and thoroughly agitate it. This stirring or agitation of the amal am is of reat importance as the alkali meta is there y carried to the surface for oxidation. The cou Is is preferably completely immersed in t e solution, the normal evel ofwhich is indicated in the figures by dotted lines.

The reaction occurs at the line of contact between the solution, the amalgam and the graphite, and other factors constant, the amount of alkali metal oxidized is proportionate to the length of this line of contact; accordingly the recesses 12 should be of such dimensions and so spaced as to insure the greatest dpracticable length of contact. The preferre dimensions and spacing of the recesses will of course vary with the thickness of the graphite plates or bars. Employing lates one inch in thickness, twent -five inches in length and three inches deep have found it advantageous to provide recesses one-half inch wide at the level of the amalgam and s aced one and one-half inches apart, there y increasing the line of contact in this particular case by about twenty per cent. It is referable that, the recesses should be not ess than one-half inch wide at the amalgam level, and therefore the gra hite lates or bars should preferably excee onealf inch in thickness in order that the contact line maybe increased.

I claim; 1. Apparatus for decomposing alkali metal amalgams com rising a vessel containing the amalgam, an electrolyte in contact with the amalgam, and a body of graphite in contact with said amalgam and electrolyte.

2. Apparatus for decomposing alkali metal amalgams com risin a vessel containing the amalgam, an e ectro yte in contact with the amalgam, a body of raphite in contact with said amalgam and e ectrolyte, and a weight for maintaining such contact.

3. Apparatus for decomposing alkali metal amalgams com risin a vessel containing the amalgam, an e ectro yte in contact with the amalgam, and a plurality of apaced plates of graphite in contact with sai amalgam and electrolyte.

4. Apparatus for decomposing alkali metal amalgams com rising a Vessel containing the amalgam, an e ectrolyte in contact with the amalgam, a plurality of spaced plates of graphite in contact with said amalgam and electrolyte, metallic weightin and spacing bars for said plates, and b0 ts assembling said bars and plates.

5. Apparatus for decomposing alkali metal amalgams com risin a vessel containing the amalgam, an e ectro yte in contact with the amalgam, a plurality of spaced lates of graphite in contact with said ama gam and electrolyte, recesses in the bottoms of said lates, and an inlet for amalgam and outlet or mercury on opposite sides of said plates.

6. Apparatus for decomposing alkali metal amalgams com risin a vessel containing the amalgam, an e ectro yte in contact with the amalgam, a plurality of s aced lates of graphite in contact with said ama gam and electrol te, recesses in the bottoms of said lates isposed in sta gered relation in adacent plates to afi'or a tortuous path for the flow of the amalgam, and an inlet for amalgam and outlet or mercury on opposite sides of said plates.

7. Apparatus for decomposing alkali metal amalgams comprising a vesse containing amalgam, an electrolyte in contact with the amalgam, an inlet for the electrolyte at the normal li uid level, a solution outlet in proximity to t e surface of the amalgam, and a body of graphite in contact with said amalgam and electrolyte.

In testimony whereof, I afl'rix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. COURTLAND F. CARRIER, JR.

Witnesses:

HARRIETTE O. HELLER, M. N. FITZGERALD. 

